-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The mother of a Brooklyn teenager shot and killed by police demanded an investigation Thursday , saying he was `` slaughtered '' and that she wants to know why .

Kimani Gray , 16 , died over the weekend . His death triggered protests in Flatbush , a community in Brooklyn where distrust of the police runs deep .

`` I 'm still waiting for Kimani to come home , '' Carol Gray told reporters during an emotional news conference . She wore dark sunglasses and struggled to speak as she recalled picking the color of her son 's casket .

`` He has a curfew , '' she said . `` Sometimes he 's late . Sometimes he 's early depending on the night . But whatever time he gets there , I 'll be real happy to see him as soon as the bell rings . And for the past couple of days , the bell has n't rung . ''

According to police , plainclothes officers were on patrol in their car in Flatbush when they saw a group of men gathered on the street at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday .

As the officers got closer , Kimani Gray broke from the group and adjusted his waistband . The teen `` continued to act in a suspicious manner , '' so the officers got out of their unmarked car and tried to get his attention , said a NYPD statement .

Kimani Gray then `` turned on them , '' it said , and pointed a .38 - caliber revolver at the officers . They fired at the teenager , striking him .

The teen died at a hospital , and a loaded .38 was recovered from the scene , the statement said .

One officer fired four rounds ; another fired seven , according to NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne . Both are now on administrative duty .

The officers were taken to a hospital and treated for what the department described as trauma and tinnitus , a ringing in the ears .

Gray said that her son was killed in front of his best friend 's house . She described him as a typical teenager , into girls and hanging out with friends .

Most people in the city likely do n't believe what police say happened Saturday , said Councilman Charles Barron , who appeared with the teen 's mother at the news conference .

For her part , Carol Gray said she did not think her son had a gun , but added , `` I was n't there . ''

`` He is not the public 's angel , but he 's my angel , and he 's my baby , and he was slaughtered and I want to know why , '' she said .

By Monday , anger at the shooting boiled over , with a mob of young people interrupting a vigil by running wildly into local businesses , according to an eyewitness . Police said they arrested two people that day .

On Tuesday , another protest brought out a mostly calm crowd that returned Wednesday , anticipating that Gray 's mother would speak , said iReporter and professional photographer Joel Graham .

But the hope for a peaceful crowd faded when about 30 young men showed up across the street from the vigil , he said .

`` They were not coming out of the shadow . They were staying in the dark area of the street . You just knew it was going to turn into the cops trying to contain those kids who were obviously gon na go for it , '' Graham said . `` That just stopped the original intention of the night . ''

Graham began to take photos , watching as kids crossed the street toward the protesters . Community leaders started shouting for everyone to calm down and asked anyone taking pictures to stop so they could talk to the young men and calm things down , the photographer told CNN .

`` These kids broke loose and took off . The police were caught off-guard , '' Graham said . `` Those kids really know the streets , and they 're spreading out and going down side streets away from the main street . ''

Next came the sound of breaking glass and rolling trash cans , Graham said , and business owners quickly pulled down their metal store-front security coverings .

One officer received a gash to his face while another was pushed off his scooter , police said .

Forty-six arrests were made , including two juveniles , with the majority charged with disorderly conduct .

On Thursday , Mayor Michael Bloomberg offered condolences to Gray 's family and said that more must be done to stop gun violence .

`` I can promise you that we will conduct a full and fair investigation , '' he said . `` I understand there 's anger in the community , but the ways to get answers is not through violence or law breaking . We can not tolerate that and we will not tolerate that . ''

The mayor said , `` there 's nothing we can do to undo the tragedy for the family , but we 've just got to get guns out of the hands of kids and of the people who should not have them . ''

Flatbush is a place where many people distrust the police , and gun violence is part of everyday life , some residents say .

`` As a black man growing up in Flatbush , you just expect to be harassed by the cops , pulled over , arrested and now just straight up killed , '' said Shanduke McPhatter , a 35-year-old former gang member who works with young men in the neighborhood . `` That 's what 's happening out here . And kids are doing it to themselves to -- they doing the crime , too -- and you got cops who do n't live here coming in here so hard , too hard . That 's how we got a situation like Kimani Gray . ''

The violence over Gray 's death will eventually subside , but the intense distrust of police will rear itself again violently soon enough in Flatbush , said Lumumba Akinwole-Bandele , a senior organizer with the NAACP .

A Brooklyn resident for 41 years , he and McPhatter told CNN there are big problems to address .

`` There are no community centers here , '' McPhatter said . `` That has to change . You have to be here and get involved .

`` And for the cops , they just need to take that badge away and talk , talk to us like human beings . We 're asking them to do that , and we 've got ta open up and talk to them . We have to do our part , too . Otherwise , this is just going to keep happening . ''

CNN 's Mary Snow and Eliott C. McLaughlin contributed to this report .

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Carol Gray calls for an investigation into her son 's death

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`` I 'm still waiting for Kimani to come home , '' she says

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Kimani Gray , 16 , was shot and killed over the weekend ; his death triggered protests

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Police say Gray pointed a gun at them